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Fuchs v. William H. Sweeney Manufacturing Co.

12 N.Y.S. 870 Court N.Y. Gen. Term Decision date 1890-12-29 English

Delivered by Bartlett, J.

Contents

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Fuchs v. William H. Sweeney Manuf’g Co.
(Supreme Court, General Term, First Department.
December 29,1890.)

Headnote

1. Injury to Employe—Defective Machinery.
Plaintiff was injured, while working for defendant at a stamping-machine, by the fall of a hammer, which, he asserted, could not have happened had the machine been in proper order, and he testified that, about two hours previously, he had told defendant’s superintendent that something was the matter with the machine, and that the latter looked at it, and declared that it was all right, and directed plaintiff to go on using it. , Another workman, to whom the machine was turned over two or three days afterwards, on his cross-examination, testified that, if a clutch had been in proper condition, it would have been impossible for the hammer to have struck plaintiff; that he repaired the clutch, and, about three months afterwards, had another one made so as to protect the workmen. Held, that this was sufficient
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evidence to be submitted to the jury of the existence of a defect in the machine, and of negligence on the part of the superintendent.
2. Feinting Recced—Costs.
_ . Plaintiff’s attorney, in printing the case and exceptions, caused to be printed in italics and small capitals all those portions of the evidence most favorable to his client. Held that, for this violation of rule 43, General Rules of Practice, no costs should be awarded on granting a new trial on his exceptions.
Exceptions from circuit court, New York county.
Action by Michael Fuchs against the William H. Sweeney Manufacturing Company. At the trial, the complaint was dismissed at the close of the evidence on both sides, and plaintiff’s exceptions were ordered to be heard in the first instance at the general term.
Argued before Van Brunt, P. J., and Bartlett, J.
Samuel D. Levy, for plaintiff. Charles E. Hill, for defendant.

The plaintiff was hurt while at work upon a stamping-machine. The hammer, according to his testimony, came down when his foot was not upon the treadle; and this it could not have done, he asserts, if the machine had been in proper order. Were there nothing else in the case to show that it was out of repair, I should be quite satisfied with the dismissal of the complaint at the circuit; but there is much more. About two hours before the accident, the plaintiff observed that the machine could not be easily operated, and he called the attention of Mr. Sweeney, the defendant’s superintendent, to the fact, telling him that something was the matter with the machine. “Therefore, ” says the plaintiff, “Mr. Sweeney came down and looked at it, but did not work it;” and, declaring that the machine was all right, he directed the plaintiff, in rather emphatic language, to go on using it. Mr. Sweeney denies having uttered the violent words attributed to him by the plaintiff on this occasion, and states that, when he was told that something was the matter with the machine, he had the plaintiff operate it in his presence, and it worked as it should work. The same witness testifies that he also examined the machine immediately after the accident, and that he found the clutches all right, and nothing the matter with it. The machine, two or three days latter, was turned over to one Thomas Scully, another workman, who took it apart and cleaned it. He was called as a witness, and, on his direct examination, said that he found it in good working condition. On cross-examination, however, he testified as follows: “Question. If that lower clutch had been in.a proper condition on the 28th day of August, it would have been impossible for the hammer to have struck Mr. Fuchs’ fingers? Answer. Yes, sir. Q. Did you repair the under clutch after you got back to work there? A. Yes, sir. Q. Is it in the same condition now that it was when Mr. Fuchs was working there? A. About three months after, I had another one made. Q'. So as to protect the workmen? A. Yes, sir.” I think this testimony points towards the existence of a defect in the machine at the time-the plaintiff was hurt, and, if such a defect existed, and the defendant’s superintendent, instead of testing the machine by having it operated in his presence, as he says he did, was content with the much slighter examination indicated by the evidence of the plaintiff, this, together with the other facts in proof, would furnish a basis for the charge of negligence. If, by the exercise of proper care and inspection, the defendant’s superintendent could have discovered and remedied the defect which led to the injury, the defendant is liable. The obligation of a master to exercise all reasonable care to keep machinery in repair is no less absolute than his obligation to use the same degree of care to furnish safe and suitable machinery for the use of his servants in the first instance. Benzing v. Steinway, 101 N. Y. 547 , 5 N. E. Rep. 449 . Upon the present review of the case at bar, we are bound to give the plaintiff the benefit of the most favorable view of the evidence which can be taken in his behalf; and, doing this, it seems to me quite clear that there was

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enough to take the question of negligence to the jury. I think the plaintiff’s exception to the dismissal of the complaint was well taken, and that he should be granted a new trial. This ease ought not to be disposed of, however, without expressing our disapproval of the manner in which the appeal-book has been printed. The plaintiff’s attorney has caused to be printed in italics, or even small capitals, all those portions of the evidence which are most favorable to his client. This is a flagrant disregard of rule 42 of the General Rules of Practice, which would not have been overlooked except for the fact that the case was submitted without oral argument, so that the matter was not brought to our attention until after the term had ended. Because of this violation of the rule, the appellant must be deprived of the costs which would otherwise be awarded him to abide the event of the new trial.

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